Technologically talented science teachers come to Eastern Illinois University
From October 3rd through 5th , Illinois' most skilled and talented science teachers were selected to participate in a science and technology project that was awarded to Eastern Illinois University from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The program, entitled Project TIE-INS (Technology, Inquiry, Environment and Investigations of the Nature of Science) is one of a series of statewide environmental science programs written and conducted by Dr. Marylin Lisowski, EIU Professor of Science and Environmental Education. The project had over 200 applicants and 60 were selected to come to EIU this fall. The teachers represent every region of the state and are highly recognized and experienced teachers in the field.

"Project TIE-INS was developed in response to teachers' requests to extend and expand their familiarity, comfort, and competence in utilizing current and appropriate technologies in their science teaching," said Lisowski. Through TIE-INS, teachers will be involved in creating web-based electronic field guides that will accurately and scientifically represent the species distribution in the area specific to their high school or middle school grounds or city area. Through this project, the participating teachers will be engaged in the techniques of conducting environmental monitoring, species identification, digital library inclusions, and inquiry-based investigations related to the inventories. The concrete end product will be the production of a web-based electronic field guide that could be accessed, referenced, and expanded by not only other students, but also scientists in the local community and throughout Illinois.

One of the major ventures of the global scientific community is the production of a Biological Inventory for our planet. This project would contribute to national and global efforts for this Global Biological Index. "Teachers and their students would not only be contributing the essential data about species distribution in their area, but they also will be engaging in real science, and will be employing the latest technological options that are available for this type of investigation." said Lisowski.

An example of the type of cataloging TIE-INS will contribute to an electronic field guide.

This project is a collaborative venture with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville under the direction of Dr Robert Williams, a noted science author and Project Director of the National Rivers Project. Also participating as experts will be Dr. Bryan Heidorn of the UIUC’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science and Project Director of a National Digital Library Project on Biocomplexity, Dr. Patricia Fewell, EIU’s Director of the Instructional Technology Center and Tom Grissom, the Technology Coordinator of the College of Education and Professional Studies.

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